Folding contour chaise



July 30, 1963 M. PEARLsTlNr-z FOLDING CONTOUR CHAISE Filed Dec. 17, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 30, 1963 M. PEARLSTINE FOLDING coNToUR CHAISE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed DeC- 17, 1962 AIW. m

NaN mw July 3o, 1963 M. PEARLSTINE FOLDING CONTOUR CHAISE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed D60. 17, 1962 -MUN MQNRN July 30, 1963 M. PEARLs-nNE FOLDING CONTOUR CHAISE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I\ ....NNN.

Filed Dec. 1'?, 1962 July 30, 1963 M. PEARLsTlNE 3,099,478

AFoLDlNG coNToUR CHAISE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 1'?, 1962 BYJ# @d United States Patent O Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 245,082

4 Claims. (Cl. 297-28) This invention relates to furniture and, in particular, to an adjustable folding contour chaise.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide in a unit of folding furniture, a chair which can be adjusted while in use by the occupant into a sitting position, a chaise position or a contour position.

vIt is another object of this invention to provide a chalr employing the position adjusting structure described above in combination with a low weight construction having sulcient structural strength for long, hard use.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a chair having, in addition to the above outlined advantages, a frame construction which allows the chair to be folded flat with a relatively small cross section for shipping or storing.

These and other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the description herein and from the attached drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in the folded condition of one form of the chair of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of this chair;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of this chair in 'the sitting position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along the lines arrows V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows VI-VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows VlI-VII of FIG. 3;

FIG. `8 is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows VIII-VIII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows IX-IX of FIG. 3;

FIG. 1() is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows X-X of FIG. 3;

FIG. 1l is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows XI-XI of FIG. 3;

FIG. l2. is a sectional view taken along the lines arrows XII- XII of FIG. 3;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational View of the chair in the chaise position;

FIG. 114 is -a side elevational view of the chair in the contour position;

FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a modified chair in the sitting position;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a modied chair in the contour position; and

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the lines and arrows XVII-XVII of FIG. 15.

y Referring first :to-FIG. 2 of the drawings, one form of the folding contour chaise of this invention is shown with a tubularmetal construction forming the chair frame 5 and the chair supporting frame structure 10. The chair, as the term is used herein to describe the body supporting structure, comprises a back unit 7 and a seat unit 6. Bot-h chair units 6 and 7 have angul-arly directed sections 6a, 7a which are designed to provide greater comfort for the user. Fastened on and to the chair frame Sis a series of straps 8 forming a webbing preferably composed of a light weight, strong material such as plastic so as to be resistant to weather damage and hard use. 'The straps 8 and and

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3,099,478 Patented July 30, 1963 ICC are fastened to the frame 5 by detachable fasteners 8a as shown in sectional view in FIG. 7. The construction and use of these detachable fasteners 8a as used in a chair structure, are described in United States Patent No. 2,444,873, dated Iuly 6, 11948, and owned by The Bunting Company of Philadelphia. The tubular members forming `the frame 5 of lthe chair and the chair supporting struc-ture 10 are preferably composed of a light weight metal such as aluminum. Two arm supports 12, 13 connect the chair back 7 with the supporting structure (l0 so as to control the inclination of the chair back.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, one form of the apparatus for adjusting :the chaise into a variety of positions is shown in greater detail. A front, substantially U-shaped supporting frame member 20, shown to the left in FIG. 3 and shown in perspective view in FIG. 2, joins the rear, similarly shaped, frame member 22 by means of a bracket 24. It is understood that the construction shown in FIG. 3 and described as forming one side of the chaise is duplicated on Ithe other side and that the apparatus functions 4as a unit to control the attitude of the chaise. F or brevity, only the structure on one side of the chaise as shown in FIG. 3 will be described herein.

As also shown in FIG. 5, a bolt 26 extends through the bracket 24 and frame member 20 to allow that member to pivot around -t-he bracket when the chair is folded into the condition shown in FIG. l. Two bolts` 28, 28a `fasten the bracket 24 to the rear frame member 22. Frame 22 is further equipped with a protruding stud 30 and spacer 31, which allows flange '34 attached to arm rest `12, by means of slot 32, to move in relation to .the rear frame member 22. Slot 32 has Ia vertical groove 33, shown in detail in FIG. 2, which permits the flange 34, arm 12 and chair back l7 to be locked in the forward or upright position as shown in FIG. 3. Stud 30 has an annular flange 30a so as to prevent flange '34 from becoming disengaged. When the chair back 7 is to be reclined, arm 12 is lifted allowing stud 30 to move out of groove 33 and then to pass through the length of slot 32 while flange 34 and arm 12 move backwards or to the right as shown in FIG. 3.

A front chair limit rod 46, shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, joins both of the upright sections of front frame member 20 by a nut 48 threaded on a stud 49 positioned within rod 46. This rod holds the upright sections of frame member 20 in proper relative position and serves to limit the movement of seat 6 in the downward, counter-clockwise direction.

'I'he main chair supporting bal- 46', shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8, is attached to front frame member 20 by a bolt 42, with a spacing washer 44 inserted to allow pivotal movement of the bar. At the distal end, bar 4'0 joins a second supporting bar 50, as shown in FIG. 9, by means of a rivet 52 and a spacer 54. Both bars are formed from a strong metal such as steel so as to be able to carry the full weight of the chair and user. Bar 50 is fastened to the rear support member 22, as also shown in FIG. 11, by a. bolt 56, with a spacer 58 and the rear limit rod 60 also attached at this point. Limit rod 60, functioning similarly to front limit rod 46, joins both sides of frame 22 and provides a support for the chair seat 6 when the rear portion of the seat is in its most downward position as shown in FIG. 2 or when the chair rotates in a clockwise direction.

The seat portion -6 of the chair is supported by a bolt 62, as shown in FIG. 8, which extends through bar 40; two spacers 64, 64a and the seat frame 5 is fastened by nut 66. The spacers 64, 64a provide for easy pivotal movement of the chair seat on and around bolt 62. The chair is balanced at this point so that by a slight shift in weight of the user, the chair will move forward or backwards.

A stud 84, shown in FIG. l` and in broken lines in FIG. 3, is mounted on the inner side of bar 49* by a pin 86. 'This stud functions to prevent supporting bar 40 from rotating clockwise beyond a certain point but allows bar 40 to rotate counter-clockwise around rivet 52 when the chair is folded into the position shown in FIG. l.

An indentation 88 is provided in bar Sil and so positioned that when the chaise is folded and bar 50k rotates counter-clockwise and bar 48' rotates clockwise, indentation 88 will fit yaround bolt 62 allowing the full collapse of the chair.

A bracket 7i), as shown in FIGS. 3 and 12, joins the chair back 7 by a bolt 74 and the seat 6 by two bolts 72 and 73. A spacer 76, extending across the end of the seat and holding apart the seat frame members 5, is held in position by a rod '78 which passes through the hollow center of the spacer 76 and is mounted within the frame of the chair 6 on both sides as shown in FIG. 6. Bolt 74 allows a slight pivotal movement of the chair back and bracket 70 at this point.

Arm support 12, similar to arm support 13 on the opposite side of the chair as shown in FIG. 3, is pivotally joined to the frame of the chair back 7 by a bolt 80 passing through both as shown in FIG. 6. A spacer 82 separates the arm support 12 and the frame 5 so as to allow pivotal movement at this point.

The arrangement of the chair supporting structure is shown from above in FIG. 4 and it is clear that similar structure is found on the opposite side of the chaise. From this figure, it is apparent that seat 6 is balanced on and pivots freely around bolt 62. The weight of the chair is carried by bar 40 and distributed to front frame member and rear frame member 22 through rivet 52, bar 50 and stud 84. It should be clear that this arrangement allows the chaise to fold as shown in FIG. l when front leg 20` and rear leg 22. are brought together. When so folded, bar 40 and bar 50 rotate around rivet 52 and the notch 88 in bar 50 allows this bar to assume a position substantially parallel to bar 40 as shown in FIG. 1. To complete the folded condition, seat 6 and back 7 are brought together, pivoting around bolt 74 with the entire structure assuming the position shown in FIG. l.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 13 and 14, the three main positions of the folding chaise of this invention are shown in detail. The sitting or upright condition is disclosed in FIG. 3, the chaise condition is disclosed in FIG. 13 and the contour condition is disclosed in FIG. 14.

In the sitting or upright condition, as shown in FIG. 3, stud 30 is locked in the groove 33 in bracket 34 so as to pull the arm supports 12, 13` forward and position the back 7 in substantially an upright position. The seat 6 is resting on the front limit rod 46 and the bracket 70, together with this end of the seat Iand back, is raised from the rear limit bar 68. The seat is held in this position by the weight of the user which is relatively forward. This is the normal chair position used when a person is reading or otherwise desires to have his back supported substantially upright.

The chaise position is shown in FIG. 13 in which the chair back 7 has been pivoted backwards by allowing stud 30 to pass in slot 32 in bracket 34, and arm supports 12, :1'3 move backwards in relation to frame member 22. 'Ihe seat 6 still remains on the front limit rod 46 and, in this position, the back of the user is lower while his legs remain in substantially the same position as in the sitting condition.

The partial contour position is shown in FIG. 14 in which the chair back moves rearward even farther than in the chaise position and the seat portion moves downward in back and rises in the front. FIG. 2 shows the chaise in the full contour position with the back of the seat resting against rear limit rod 60 and the front of the chair substantially raised. FIG. 14 shows the chair in an intermediate position between the chaise and contour position. It will be noted that the chair is so balanced in the supporting frame members that the user can rock between the chaise and contour position by simply shifting his weight slightly.

This unique suspension structure of the chaise of my invention is achieved by supporting the chair at four points forming a quadrangle. These points are bolts 62 joining the seat to bar 40, bracket 70 joining the seat and back portions of the chair, bolt joining the back and arm supports and stud 30 mounted to allow movement of llange 34.

A modification of the folding contour chaise of this invention isshown in FIGS. 15-17. The nature of this modification is that the rear limit bar 60, previously stationary and positioned almost directly below the point where the chair seat and back join, now changes position as the chair moves from the sitting position through the chaise and contour position.

Referring to FIGS. l5 and 17, the rear limit bar 60a, located behind bolt in FIG. `|15, is positioned, while the chair is in the sitting position, more toward the left or front of the chair than in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3. Bar 60a is held by the two levers 92 and 94. Lever 92 is attached to the rear frame 22 by a bolt 96 which extends throughvmember 22, through a spacer 97, through lever 92, through a spacer 95, finally is attached to bar 50. This construction is shown in detail in FIG. 17. Lever 94 is pivotally attached to bar 60a, adjacent to lever 92, by bolt 8S and lever 94 is attached to arm rest 12 by a bolt 98. A spacer (not shown) separates lever 94 from arm rest 12 so as to allow pivotal movement at this point. It should be understood that the two levers 92, 94 and other structures described supra are duplicated on the other side of the chaise.

When the chair is placed in sitting condition as shown in FIG. 15, arm rest 12 is forward, drawing lever 94 forward and thus pulling bar 60a forward and upwards as said bar follows an arc prescribed by lever 92. When limit bar 60a is in the position shown in FIG. 15, the chair seat can descend only a very short distance before it cornes in contact with the limit bar. This construction prevents the chair seat from swinging downward rapidly Iwhen the user inadvertently shifts his weight backward in the chair usually while getting into the chair. Through use of this modification, limit bar 60az prevents the chair seat from rapidly changing position.

IIn IFIG. 16, the arm rests have been moved backward, the chair back pivoted backwards and the seat moved downward against the limit bar 60a. As this is the full contour condition the limit bar 60a has shifted to a lower position than in FIG. 15 and allows the chair to fully recline. `Movement of the bar 60a is caused when lever 94 moves backward and downward with the arm supports and bar 60a` prescribing an arc around lever 92. The limit bar is now `in position to prevent the chair seat from moving downward farther than the contour position.

It should be understood that when the chair is placed in the chaise position, that is, the condition between the sitting and contour condition, lever 94 moves backward and downward a smaller distance, not quite that shown in FIG. 16, thereby controlling the downward movement of the chair while so positioned.

The preferred forms of the adjustable folding contour chaise of this invention as disclosed herein provide three definite, separate sittingpositions and a variety of intermediate positions. In addition, the chair of my invention is structurally strong, of light weight and can be completely folded into a closed position of relatively small thickness. When the members are formed of material such as aluminum and plastic straps, the chair is suitableA for long exposure to the weather without any or little deterioration.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art can make changes and alterations in the preferred forms of my invention shown herein. For example, the supporting members may have a different shape and the back and seat portions may be bent at a different angle. However, these and other changes are well within the spirit of this invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An adjustable folding contour chaise comprising in combination a chair having seat and back units pivotally joined,

a frame structure for supporting the chair having front and rear support members pivotally joined,

a pair of arm supports pivotally attached to the chair at one end and displaceably mounted on the frame structure at the other end,

means for supporting the chair unit in a variety of positions in relation to the frame structure having on each side of the chair a main supporting bar attached to a support member at one end and attached to a second bar at the other end, said second bar attached to the other support member,

a pivotal connection between the main supporting bar and the seat unit of the chair,

an adjustable rear limit bar mounted beneath the chair, said bar positioned by a lever extending from an arm support and a second lever attached to the rear support member, and

a front limit bar mounted upon the front support member whereby rotation of the chair in the counter-clockwise direction is limited.

2. The chaise as dened in claim 1 wherein tubular metal forms the framework of the chair and the supporting frame structure.

3. An adjustable folding contour chaise comprising in combination a chair having substantially rigid seat and back units pivotally joined, said units having angularly displaced portions,

.a frame structure for supporting the chair having a front, U-shaped support member and a rear U-shaped support member, said members being pivotally joined,

a pair of arm supports attached to the back unit of the chair at one end and displaceably mounted on the frame structure at the other end,

means for supporting the chair in a variety of positions in relation to the frame structure having on each side of the chair a main supporting bar pivotally attached to a second supporting bar, both bars pivotally mounted on opposite frame support members,

a pivotal connection between the main supporting bar and the seat unit of the chair,

front and rear limit bars mounted between the vertical upright portions of the front and rear support members and positioned to limit the rotation of the chair in both directions,

a lever attached to yan arm support at one end and the rear limit bar at the other, said lever adjusting the position of the limit bar in relation to the chair as the position of the arm rest varies.

4. The chaise as defined in claim 3 'wherein the chair comprises a tubular metal framework with webbing attached thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,286,636 Holmes Dec. 3, 1918 2,603,273 Gambrill July 15, 1952 2,714,925 Rosenfeld et al Aug. 9, 1955 2,834,400 Hebert May 13, 1958 3,031,228 Tydor Apr. 24, 1962 3,049,375 Carlson Aug. 14, 1962 3,075,811 Brown Jan. 29, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 800,374 France May 4, 1936 800,907 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1958 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE FOLDING CONTOUR CHAISE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CHAIR HAVING SEAT BACK UNITS PIVOTALLY JOINED, A FRAME STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING THE CHAIR HAVING FRONT AND REAR SUPPORT MEMBERS PIVOTALLY JOINED, A PAIR OF ARM SUPPORTS PIOTALLY ATTACHED TO THE CHAIR AT ONE END AND DISPLACEABLY MOUNTED ON THE FRAME STRUCTURE AT THE OTHER END, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE CHAIR UNIT IN A VARIETY OF POSITIONS IN RELATION TO THE FRAME STRUCTURE HAVING ON EACH SIDE OF THE CHAIR A MAIN SUPPORTING BAR ATTACHED TO A SUPPORT MEMBER AT ONE END AND ATTACHED TO A SECOND BAR AT THE OTHER END, SAID SECOND BAR ATTACHED TO THE OTHER SUPPORT MEMBER, A PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MAIN SUPPORTING BAR AND THE SEAT UNIT OF THE CHAIR, AN ADJUSTABLE REAR LIMIT BAR MOUNTED BENEATH THE CHAIR, SAID BAR POSITIONED BY A LEVER EXTENDING FROM AN ARM SUPPORT AND A SECOND LEVER ATTACHED TO THE REAR SUPPORT MEMBER, AND A FRONT LIMIT BAR MOUNTED UPON THE FRONT SUPPORT MEMBER WHEREBY ROTATION OF THE CHAIR IN THE COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION IS LIMITED. 